Dry weather worsening rural depression, support worker says

A mental health drought support worker says the ongoing dry weather is isolating farmers and causing an increase in mental illness and depression.

Di Gill will address a farmers' mental health gathering in Trangie on Friday and Eugowra later this month to provide information about medical support services.

She says many farmers are not seeking help for problems which are exacerbated by weather conditions and a financial drought.

"We are isolating more, they are not coming in, there are a lot of factors for that, cost of fuel, we've just had an interest rate rise, so that'll be impacting on how a lot of farmers are feeling at the moment, because a lot of them are in debt to their limit and if this crop doesn't come in they're going to be even worse off," he said.

Ms Gill says many people suffer from undiagnosed depression and often confuse symptoms with other health problems.

"The types of things that you see are increased substance abuse, alcohol, other substances, you're seeing relationships break down, personally I'm seeing people walk off farms, I've lost a few friends who've walked away, because they can't cope with their farm any more," she said.